Camp survivors in barracks at liberation. Dachau, Germany, April 29-May 1, 1945.
Camp survivors in barracks at liberation. Dachau, Germany, April 29-May 1, 1945.


Jack and Moniek slowly walked out of the camp never looking back. They walked down the street with no food or water. They were starving and if they didn’t find food soon they would die. Walking down the street they found a cluster of abandoned German trucks and motorcycles. They found one with the key still in ignition and drove it to the near by concentration camp that contained Jewish women. They opened the gate and unlocked the barracks. The women slowly stepped out un-certain of what to do with their freedom. They drove the truck to the town in the distance. German citizens were packing up there homes and driving away. Afraid of the Red army that was rapidly getting closer. Moniek and Jack stormed into a bakery and began to grab pieces of bread stuffing it into their mouths and pockets.
They had enough to survive for the night so they decided they needed to find a place to sleep before all the other Jews entered the town. They found a house that had plenty of food and water for more than just themselves. They cleaned themselves up and ate and drank like kings. Jack and Moniek heard the Liberators created a camp for the Jewish survivors in Frankenfurt. There, Moniek found his brothers and left. It was hard for the both of them. Jack lived with a German women and her daughter. The women’s husband was a Nazi who was killed in action. So to help them Jack gave them food that he received from the liberators. After some time Jack decided to search for his family. He found his Uncle Munich who survived Auschwitz and his Aunt Hilda. The rest of his family died in Aushwitz.
A year after Liberation Jack moved to America. He arrived in New York City but decided to move to Kansas city. He found a job at a clothing-distribution wholesaler, sweeping floors and moving boxes. His uncle became a painter. In 1952 Jack gained his American Citizenship. Saving all his money him and his Uncle were able to pay for Aunt Hilda's ticket to America where she could begin a new life as well. Becoming a very successful man over time Jack was able to buy his company and turned it into a thriving import company. He married his wife Claudia and had seven children, and twelve grandchildren. Jack’s best friend Moniek moved to New York where he became a contractor and he married his wife Erika. They had two sons. Fifteen years after moving to the U.S. Jack’s Aunt Hilda died from Cancer. Years later in 1999 Jack and his Uncle Munich went to Poland to relive what they had in the past. When Jack’s children were growing up they did not know anything about the Holocaust. Jack only told them that he lost his parents. In 1993 Jack and his friends were able to build the Midwest Center for Holocaust Education. There he educated people about the before, during, and after the holocaust. He also tells the visitors how many Jews have been affected even after the Holocaust with disorders such as Post traumatic stress disorder. Jack explains, “If Every human works together there is hope for humanity.” Jack Mandelbuam, pg. 127. Surviving Hitler.